HB 257-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
8Jan2026... 1038h
2025 SESSION
25-0317
09/05
HOUSE BILL 257-FN
AN ACT relative to the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent.
SPONSORS: Rep. Rollins, Sull. 3; Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4; Rep. Pauer, Hills. 36; Rep. Levesque, Straf. 4; Rep. B. Sullivan, Sull. 1; Rep. Damon, Sull. 8; Sen. Ward, Dist 8
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill amends the mental state applicable to the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
8Jan2026... 1038h 25-0317
09/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Endangering Welfare of a Child or Incompetent. Amend RSA 639:3, I to read as follows:
I. A person is guilty of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent if he [knowingly] recklessly endangers the welfare of a child under 18 years of age or of an incompetent person by [purposely] recklessly violating a duty of care, protection or support he owes to such child or incompetent, or by inducing such child or incompetent to engage in conduct that endangers his health or safety.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
25-0317
1/14/26
HB 257-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT # 2025-1038h)
AN ACT relative to the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent.
FISCAL IMPACT:
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund | None | |||||
Expenditures* | Indeterminable | |||||
Funding Source | General Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
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Estimated Political Subdivision Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
County Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
County Expenditures | Indeterminable | |||||
Local Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Local Expenditures | Indeterminable | |||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state, as well as county and local governments. A summary of such costs can be found at: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Feb. 19, 2025 | 2025-0503h |
| Nov. 13, 2025 | 2025-1038h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 22, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 24, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 29, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 7, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 14, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| March 19, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Oct. 15, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Oct. 22, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 19, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
March 12, 2026: Hearing: 03/19/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:40 am; SC 10
Jan. 15, 2026: Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Children and Family Law; SJ 2
Jan. 8, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-1038h: MA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 2
Jan. 8, 2026: Amendment # 2025-1038h (NT): AA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 2
Jan. 8, 2026: Lay HB257 on Table (Rep. McFarlane): MF DV 117-204 01/08/2026 HJ 2
Jan. 6, 2026: Removed from Consent (Reps. McFarlane, Drew, Tom Mannion, Giasson, Granger, Popovici-Muller, Mehegan, Polozov, Burnham, Corcoran) 01/06/2026
Nov. 13, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1038h (NT) 10/22/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC)
Oct. 3, 2025: ==RESCHEDULED== Executive Session: 10/22/2025 01:00 pm GP 230
Oct. 3, 2025: ==RESCHEDULED== Full Committee Work Session: 10/22/2025 10:00 am GP 230
March 19, 2025: Retained in Committee
March 10, 2025: Executive Session: 03/19/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
March 6, 2025: ==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 03/14/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
Feb. 20, 2025: Recommit (Rep. Roy): MA DV 371-2 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 34
Feb. 11, 2025: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
Feb. 11, 2025: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/07/2025 (Vote 11-5; RC) HC 12 P. 15
Feb. 11, 2025: Executive Session: 01/29/2025 11:00 am LOB 202-204
Jan. 22, 2025: Subcommittee Work Session: 01/29/2025 11:00 am LOB 202-204
Jan. 15, 2025: ==CANCELLED== Public Hearing: 01/24/2025 02:30 pm LOB 202-204
Jan. 14, 2025: Public Hearing: 01/22/2025 11:00 am LOB 301-303
Jan. 7, 2025: Introduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 2 P. 12